I can’t remember when or where I first read this little bit of writing wisdom, certainly it was a long time ago and it’s stuck with me, though not for writing. It’s from the book “100 ways to improve your writing” by Gary Provost, I’ve since ordered the book up (it’s a fun little collection of snippets like this that I’m sure can help any writer). I’ll let you read it and tell you what I think…
This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
So write with a combination of short, medium, and long sentences. Create a sound that pleases the reader’s ear. Don’t just write words. Write music.
Ok. Now, as this applies to comics – writing comics isn’t writing. Your reader will only ever read the words you’ve written if they’re included in dialogue or captions (or any other narrative tricks you’ve picked up), for the most part you’re writing for an artist and there it’s about clarity and being succinct. (Five words sentences? Great as long as it’s of the line “Dredd stands firm, looking grim.”)
But what is important is that the lessons within this little gem be applied across the board to your comics. Instead of “five word sentences” think “small identical sized panels” – a few? ok, But then let them explode! Build up energy with a bunch of panels, burst out with a splash. Make the panels interesting to look at and it will be interesting. Humans are easily bored, it’s a genetic thing (I once saw an experiment with a sea cucumber showing how even something with barely a brain can be bored) it’s why flashing lights attract us, why sitting still can make things invisible and why the coctail party phenomena works.
Your comics can be guilty of many crimes, but boring should never be one of them.
